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To the editor:

We have all heard the adage, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Do you include the school library in your village? April has arrived and with it, School Library Month! The governor of Virginia’s current stay-at-home order may have shuttered the doors on our schools, but not on our school librarians.

It is in the interest of everyone in our community or village to support our school libraries. Support comes in all shapes and sizes; choose what works for you. Volunteer in the library on a regular schedule, help out during special events like a book fair, be the author for an author-talk visit, or purchase items from the book fair, order supplies, or help to paint the walls — whatever may be needed. The point is to help our school libraries to be vibrant and comfortable places of learning for our students.

School libraries have a wonderful opportunity to help develop our students into critical thinkers, life-long learners, and productive members of society with excellent research skills and strong digital citizenship. Like most members of any village or community, school libraries need a little help, too. School Library Month would usually be a great time to check with your local school librarian and offer some volunteer hours. Our current situation, closed schools, will not permit that. I bet when the school doors open again, though, there will be a large need for volunteers to help get the school library ready to go. Students will, I am sure, be ready to once again browse the shelves in the search for a new book to read. Taking the words of television’s Mr. Rogers, “Be a helper — and check on your local school librarian!”

Laurena Coates

Hampton